{"id":18307,"date":"2026-10-12T14:39:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=18307"},"modified":"2026-10-12T14:39:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:39:57","slug":"maryville-one-win-from-college-esports-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/maryville-one-win-from-college-esports-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryville University Faces Disguised for a Spot in the LCS, One Win from a College Esports First"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a rematch of last week’s historic upset, Maryville’s student team plays Monday in Mexico City for the 2027 LCS Guest Slot. No college program has ever reached North America’s top professional League of Legends league.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

MEXICO CITY (Oct. 11, 2026)<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Maryville University’s League of Legends team has arrived in Mexico City for the biggest match in college esports history. On Monday, Oct. 12, the Saints face <\/span>Disguised <\/span>in the LCS Promotion Tournament Grand Final at Arena Esports Stadium. A win would make Maryville the first college program ever to earn a spot in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Rematch with History on the Line<\/h2>\n

The teams have met before. On Oct. 7, Maryville beat Disguised 3-1, the first time a college team has won an official series against an LCS team. Riot Games and the tournament broadcast both recognized the result. Disguised, which spent the 2026 season in the LCS, fought back through the lower bracket to earn a rematch.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The winner of Monday’s best-of-five takes the 2027 LCS Guest Slot. That team plays the full 2027 season against organizations such as Cloud9, Team Liquid and FlyQuest, with a chance to qualify for First Stand, the Mid-Season Invitational and the World Championship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The LCS is to League of Legends what the NBA or NFL is to their sports. Most of its teams are permanent partner organizations with salaried professional players. Because partner teams cannot be relegated, the Guest Slot is the only way to compete into the league.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Road to Mexico City\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Maryville entered the Promotion Tournament as the second seed from the North American Challengers League (NACL), the tier directly below the LCS. The team has not lost a series in the tournament.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Upper Bracket Final was its own redemption story. Cupid Esports swept Maryville 3-0 in the NACL Summer Playoffs final. On Oct. 8, Maryville returned the 3-0 sweep to reach the Grand Final, led by jungler Yuuji and top laner Crimson.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Decade in the Making<\/h2>\n

Maryville launched esports in 2015 as one of six founding members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Its League of Legends team has since won a national title with a 40-0 record, became the first American university to win the collegiate championship in 2017, and claimed back-to-back College League of Legends titles in 2025 and 2026.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Summer 2024, Maryville won the NACL without losing a series, the first collegiate team to win a tier-two League of Legends league. Nine former Saints have reached the LCS as individuals, including Cloud9 mid laner Eain “APA” Stearns and Disguised AD carry Sajed “Sajed” Ziade, who will face his former program on Monday. A win would bring the program itself to the league.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Watch<\/h2>\n

The Grand Final begins at 6 p.m. CT on Monday, Oct. 12, and streams live on <\/span>Twitch.tv\/LCS<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>YouTube.com\/@LCS<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryville will host a watch party at the Saints Gaming Lounge at 6 p.m., with pizza and giveaways. It is open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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About Maryville University<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of well over 9,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master\u2019s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the third fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from 50 states and 56 countries. More than 50,000 Maryville alumni globally, many of whom work and live in the St. Louis region.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About Maryville Esports<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>Founded in 2015, Maryville Esports was one of six founding members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Its League of Legends program has won multiple national championships, became the first collegiate team to win a tier-two League of Legends league (NACL Summer 2024), and has sent nine players to the LCS.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i>Love<\/span>0<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/i> <\/i>